Selecting the right school for a child is a crucial rite of passage for parents. A great school can cement the foundation of your child’s academic future. However, with over 9,500 schools in Australia, finding the perfect fit is an overwhelming task. The abundance of choice is both a boon and a bane. The process is so nerve-wracking that parents spiral into a state of anxiety. Let us quash your qualms and guide you ahead! Here’s how you can choose the right school, tailored to your child’s personality, needs, and strengths.  

Factors to Consider to Pick the Right School

It doesn’t matter whether you are searching for the best primary school in Melbourne or Adelaide, here’s how you can make an informed choice. Evaluate the following factors before finalising a school!  

Personal Factors:

1. Know Your Child   First and foremost, make a list of your child’s likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, quirks, and interests. Find a place suited to your child’s character traits. Don’t get caught up in “best primary schools in Australia” or other bootless tags. Focus on your child’s needs and goals.   education   2. Type of School   To refine your search, decide on the type of school you prefer. There are public schools, private schools, specialty schools, charter schools, home schools, and others. Refer to directories, government sites and guides to streamline your search. Australian School Directory, My School website and The Good Schools Guide Victoria are exceptional sources of information. Your selection will further decide the cost and type of education your child will receive.   3. Philosophy and Values   Often, our beliefs influence our decisions. Make sure your religious inclinations and the school’s values align well. For instance, if you want to instil a Christian worldview in your child, pick a Catholic school for their early childhood education.   4. Before/After Care   Some schools provide before or after day-care services to help parents. Explore school care options even if you don’t need them right now, as they can come in handy in case of emergencies. Check if your time commitments match with the school’s care timings.  

School Specific Factors:

  The most decisive factor is the school’s structure and functions. Ask yourself the following questions to find the apt school, specific to your child.   1. Class Size and Composition   Do you want your child in a class with a lot of students or fewer? Do you want them to be in an All-boys/All-girls school or Co-ed? Although there isn’t a significant impact of class size or single-sex schools on learning, it does affect children in long term. For instance, primary school children require special attention and care. Hence, they learn and perform well in a small class of students.   2. Open or Selective Entry   Some high schools grant admission based on key selection criteria. They prefer students with high academic achievements. There are no such stipulations for primary schools. However, you can pick those which offer special classes to crack entrance exams of selective entry high school. Don’t just google the closest high school to me or the best school in the city. Instead, prepare your child for these selective entry schools and hone their calibre.   book   3. Curriculum   Which programs and subjects are available in the school? Which additional electives are offered? Does it offer the subject, specific to your child’s interest? Your child’s aptitude and career goals depend upon this preference. Make sure the school offers those subjects. Also, check if related facilities and faculty are available or not.   4. Extra-Curricular Activities   Do you want your child to engage in various social and skill-building activities? Does the school offer these programs and classes? How much emphasis is given to such activities? Are there enough resources and faculty for them? Extra-curricular activities form an important facet of education with a multitude of benefits (Wilson, 2009). It widens the child’s social circle and interests. Moreover, it also enhances their academic achievement.   5. Teaching Approach   What are the approaches used for teaching and learning? Are there standardized tests, textbooks and lesson plans? Which assessment tools are used? How does the teacher address and engage students? Are they given enough quality feedback? It’s crucial to analyse teaching techniques as they differ widely across schools. For instance, Victorian teaching criteria, questions and answers might differ from the schools in South Australia.   6. Results and Ratings   Student’s overall performance and excellence in particular subjects point to their school’s success. Keep a check on lists of rankings of schools. Refer to My School website to assess their performance. The best indicator to judge a school is its impact on a student’s progress. Beyond achievement scores and NAPLAN raw results, look for a rise in NAPLAN points as school years advance from 3,5,7 to 9.   7. Additional Support   Does your child need extra learning support? For instance, either your child suffers from a disorder or developmental delay; or if they are gifted or genius. Confirm with the school if it possesses appropriate resources for them. Also, verify that the faculty is equipped to deal with the additional requirements.  

Practical Factors:

1. Location and School Zones   Consider the distance from your home address to a local school v/s the ones situated far away. The closest schools aren’t always the best, only convenient. Make sure the distance, daily commute means, and timings are feasible for you as well as your child. Some schools only admit children from a specific catchment area. Mostly these schools are extremely popular and have long waiting lists. You might have to relocate to the enrolment area or face a gruelling application process to access these exclusive schools.   school-bus   2. School Costs   The cost of schooling is ever-rising (Big W’s Report). The expense depends on the type of school (public or private) and amenities provided. You’ll have to pay for tuition, levies, supplies, uniforms, extra activities, travel as well as additional program fees. Use online cost estimating calculators to find schools according to your financial capacity.   3. Connections and Involvement   Schools help students as well as parents to build lifelong networks. Look for schools that are most connected to social communities and offer social connection or ‘buddy’ programs. Do you want to work with your child and help them with homework? Or do you prefer zero involvement with school work and assignments? Look for the school’s parental policies. This can help you ascertain the level of your involvement required.  

To Conclude

Contemplate each factor wisely before making a decision. Don’t hesitate to trust your instincts over data, if you feel the school isn’t an ideal fit for you or your child. A cost-effective, easy to reach school which ticks all the right boxes doesn’t come easy. But it can ensure your child’s academic success and career development. Choose well!